Digital subscriptions: Adapting to changing habits

Miles ForrestPublisher

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 4:10 p.m.

Throughout its 135-year history, The Courier has been valued and respected as the most substantial and trustworthy source for news and information about our community. No other media outlet provides the quality, depth or breadth of local news coverage that readers consistently find in our newspaper.

We employ the Houma-Thibodaux area's largest and most comprehensive team of first-rate journalists, advertising consultants and production and printing specialists who daily provide our readers with an unparalleled focus on our community. The Courier, within its circulation division, has been recognized for its quality efforts by being named the Louisiana Press Association's Newspaper of the Year for 13 of the past 14 years.

Today's newspaper environment is one that is rapidly evolving and making ever-increasing use of sophisticated technology. We have made consistent and significant strides and investments to keep pace with the constantly changing media landscape.

As a testament to our success with innovation and technology, you, our readers, have made our locally produced websites the most viewed and most visited in the Houma-Thibodaux metropolitan area. Our websites consistently register in excess of 7 to 9 million page views each month.

As the media environment and our readers change and adapt to new methods and technology, so too must we, or we put at risk the work we do. The work you demand and expect.

The content that we produce is the core of our franchise. We cannot continue to charge some users (our print subscribers) and allow others (our online-only readers) to have free access to our most valued content. As a model for business, this is simply not sustainable.

Effective Monday, April 8, we are introducing an exciting new business model that includes digital subscriptions. We will join a rapidly growing list of newspapers across Louisiana and America that recognize the value of our content across all methods of delivery.

If you are currently a home-delivery subscriber to The Courier, you will continue to have unlimited access to houmatoday.com at no additional charge. In other words, nothing changes for you. Your account will be automatically upgraded for complete access across all delivery devices — desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. All you will need to do is to complete a simple online registration form to continue unfettered access to our online edition and our mobile platform.

Our online readers who do not presently have a home-delivery subscription to The Courier will be asked to subscribe to our online edition, houmatoday.com or its mobile counterpart, m.houmatoday.com. The monthly rate for our new, exclusive online-only subscription will be $9.95.

This new digital subscription option will allow you to continue to have full access to all of our award-winning content online for each of your digital devices. So for just about 33 cents a day, you get the full local news, entertainment and sports package you've come to enjoy, and you help us continue to expand and improve that package.

With this new model, houmatoday.com will expand its offerings to include Class Acts photos of activities in local schools, public records listings such as court filings and real-estate transactions, news and pictures about community groups and local residents serving in the military, and Parade Magazine online.

Complete and immediate access to local news and advertising content in print, online and via mobile device is your best value at $13.50 per month. It is our most comprehensive package and is the best of all worlds with complete versatility of delivery methods.

In the days leading up to the implementation of our new digital subscription model, we will carry news stories and advertising, both in print and online, that explain in greater detail the options and choices that are being offered.

Our commitment to local news and information is unwavering, regardless of the method of delivery. We are steadfast in our belief that local news and advertising are an integral part of our community mission and the bond we share.

We are far advanced from just a printed newspaper. We are now the foremost resource for all the information that is crucial to you, including award-winning journalism, up-to-the-minute breaking news, sales information and money-saving opportunities.

In print, online or by mobile device, we will deliver your news and information, your way. Any way you want it.

<p>Throughout its 135-year history, The Courier has been valued and respected as the most substantial and trustworthy source for news and information about our community. No other media outlet provides the quality, depth or breadth of local news coverage that readers consistently find in our newspaper.</p><p>We employ the Houma-Thibodaux area's largest and most comprehensive team of first-rate journalists, advertising consultants and production and printing specialists who daily provide our readers with an unparalleled focus on our community. The Courier, within its circulation division, has been recognized for its quality efforts by being named the Louisiana Press Association's Newspaper of the Year for 13 of the past 14 years.</p><p>Today's newspaper environment is one that is rapidly evolving and making ever-increasing use of sophisticated technology. We have made consistent and significant strides and investments to keep pace with the constantly changing media landscape.</p><p>As a testament to our success with innovation and technology, you, our readers, have made our locally produced websites the most viewed and most visited in the Houma-Thibodaux metropolitan area. Our websites consistently register in excess of 7 to 9 million page views each month.</p><p>As the media environment and our readers change and adapt to new methods and technology, so too must we, or we put at risk the work we do. The work you demand and expect.</p><p>The content that we produce is the core of our franchise. We cannot continue to charge some users (our print subscribers) and allow others (our online-only readers) to have free access to our most valued content. As a model for business, this is simply not sustainable.</p><p>Effective Monday, April 8, we are introducing an exciting new business model that includes digital subscriptions. We will join a rapidly growing list of newspapers across Louisiana and America that recognize the value of our content across all methods of delivery. </p><p>If you are currently a home-delivery subscriber to The Courier, you will continue to have unlimited access to houmatoday.com at no additional charge. In other words, nothing changes for you. Your account will be automatically upgraded for complete access across all delivery devices — desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. All you will need to do is to complete a simple online registration form to continue unfettered access to our online edition and our mobile platform.</p><p>Our online readers who do not presently have a home-delivery subscription to The Courier will be asked to subscribe to our online edition, houmatoday.com or its mobile counterpart, m.houmatoday.com. The monthly rate for our new, exclusive online-only subscription will be $9.95.</p><p>This new digital subscription option will allow you to continue to have full access to all of our award-winning content online for each of your digital devices. So for just about 33 cents a day, you get the full local news, entertainment and sports package you've come to enjoy, and you help us continue to expand and improve that package.</p><p>With this new model, houmatoday.com will expand its offerings to include Class Acts photos of activities in local schools, public records listings such as court filings and real-estate transactions, news and pictures about community groups and local residents serving in the military, and Parade Magazine online.</p><p>Complete and immediate access to local news and advertising content in print, online and via mobile device is your best value at $13.50 per month. It is our most comprehensive package and is the best of all worlds with complete versatility of delivery methods.</p><p>In the days leading up to the implementation of our new digital subscription model, we will carry news stories and advertising, both in print and online, that explain in greater detail the options and choices that are being offered.</p><p>Our commitment to local news and information is unwavering, regardless of the method of delivery. We are steadfast in our belief that local news and advertising are an integral part of our community mission and the bond we share.</p><p>We are far advanced from just a printed newspaper. We are now the foremost resource for all the information that is crucial to you, including award-winning journalism, up-to-the-minute breaking news, sales information and money-saving opportunities.</p><p>In print, online or by mobile device, we will deliver your news and information, your way. Any way you want it.</p>